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Alan Alda directs and stars in this satirical comedy about the film industry's take on history. Professor Michael Burgess's (Alda) historical novel about the American Revolution is about to be made into a film, but when the film crew descends on his hometown, the professor realises quite a few liberties have been taken with the script. Desperately trying to right the wrong, he soon falls for leading lady Faith Healy (Michele Pfeiffer), much to the annoyance of long-term girlfriend Gretchen (Lise Hilboldt). To complicate matters more, the arrival of egotistical lead male Elliot James (Michael Caine) provokes a tug-of-love for the affections of the flirty Ms.Healy.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Old Biker
Format:DVD
This Alda comedy has been out of European circulation (Region 2) for some time so nice to see it re-released.
The combination of Alda, Hoskins, Cain, Pfeiffer, Hilboldt & Saul Rubinek as the hard pressed director makes this movie a 100 minutes of pure gentle comedy without a message or dark side.
The combination of Alda, Hoskins, Cain, Pfeiffer, Hilboldt & Saul Rubinek as the hard pressed director makes this movie a 100 minutes of pure gentle comedy without a message or dark side.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By ray dorrity
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Why this movie was not an enormous hit when it was released in 1986 is beyond me.
It has a fantastic cast - Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins etc., etc., and a great story.
In brief, Alan Alda is a High School teacher who writes a book about his New England town during the Revolutionary Wars and then sells the rights to a movie company.
The film makers then descend on the town en-masse to make the movie where the story actually happened.
Bob Hoskins is the screen writer constantly at odds with Alan Alda over changes to his story.
Michael Caine is the English actor hired to play the big bad Redcoat Officer and completely steals the picture.
Watch out for the daily swordfight between Caine and Alda. It is hillarious.
One of Michael Caine's best and definately Alda's best since M*A*S*H.
Buy and enjoy.
It has a fantastic cast - Alan Alda, Michael Caine, Bob Hoskins etc., etc., and a great story.
In brief, Alan Alda is a High School teacher who writes a book about his New England town during the Revolutionary Wars and then sells the rights to a movie company.
The film makers then descend on the town en-masse to make the movie where the story actually happened.
Bob Hoskins is the screen writer constantly at odds with Alan Alda over changes to his story.
Michael Caine is the English actor hired to play the big bad Redcoat Officer and completely steals the picture.
Watch out for the daily swordfight between Caine and Alda. It is hillarious.
One of Michael Caine's best and definately Alda's best since M*A*S*H.
Buy and enjoy.
Format:DVD
Either an American take on a French-style morality tale or a kind of Ealing Comedy with philosophical underpinnings. (Yes - I know Genevieve seemed that way - but that was just the sight of grown-ups (the audience) watching other grown-ups quarrelling.) Alda's tenderness towards his characters shines through, and it has a lovely old-fashioned feel now which makes it feel more precious somehow.
NOTA BENE: The other reviews here don't really do this intelligent movie justice. Romancing the Stone (one of my favorite movies, by the way) may be slicker; it also has a higher sugar content. This one will bear repeated viewings and its message, though cunningly flagged in its title, always takes one by surprise (generally after one's switched the DVD off - though there is one whiplash moment (not a 'reveal' exactly) 'Where have you been the past three weeks?'); it also manages to be a homespun paean to the movie industry.
PS Alda really deserves to be in David Thomson's Biographical Dictionary on the strength of this alone (after all, he's in Chambers) but I guess it's too late now (sigh). And you tell me Genevieve wasn't an Ealing Comedy?? Well shucks!
NOTA BENE: The other reviews here don't really do this intelligent movie justice. Romancing the Stone (one of my favorite movies, by the way) may be slicker; it also has a higher sugar content. This one will bear repeated viewings and its message, though cunningly flagged in its title, always takes one by surprise (generally after one's switched the DVD off - though there is one whiplash moment (not a 'reveal' exactly) 'Where have you been the past three weeks?'); it also manages to be a homespun paean to the movie industry.
PS Alda really deserves to be in David Thomson's Biographical Dictionary on the strength of this alone (after all, he's in Chambers) but I guess it's too late now (sigh). And you tell me Genevieve wasn't an Ealing Comedy?? Well shucks!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Unwatchable. Check your brain at the door.
This movie is just plain awful. That's it.... awful. I wish there was anything entertaining about it. Sadly this is low end tripe.
Published 9 months ago by Henry Gross
1.0 out of 5 stars
How could these actors make such a dreadful movie
I am a fan of Alan Alda but this movie is such a disappointment. The script is all over the place, there is no comedy and speaking as someone who usually gives every movie a... Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2010 by Em Hollowood
5.0 out of 5 stars
Where's my book???
How thrilled I was to be able to buy this wonderful film on DVD. I remember watching it on video on its original release and both myself and my husband quote lines from it. Read more
Published on 1 May 2010 by Mrs Pisaroni
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